Laboratory of Molecular Biology

About: Laboratory of Molecular Biology is a facility organization based out in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Gene & RNA. The organization has 19395 authors who have published 24236 publications receiving 2101480 citations.

Fusion of the dominant negative transcription regulator CHOP with a novel gene FUS by translocation t(12;16) in malignant liposarcoma.

Abstract: The search for tumour–specific markers is one of the chief goals in cancer biology. We show that the translocation t(12;16)(q13:p11) in malignant myxoid liposarcoma can be a fusion of the CHOP dominant negative transcription factor gene with a novel gene, FUS, which can result in fusion of the FUS glycine–rich protein with the whole CHOP coding region. The data support the concept that protein fusion may commonly occur in solid tumours resulting in tumour–specific markers of potential clinical importance. The data also indicate the importance of transcription disruption in the pathogenesis of solid tumours.

Function of Lipophilic Acids as Antimicrobial Food Additives

Abstract: Most antimicrobial food additives are lipophilic acids which prevent growth by inhibiting the transport of substrate molecules into cells. The inhibition of transport was also observed in membrane vesicles, even when they were derived from organisms for which growth and transport are not affected by the larger inhibitors.

Mother's little helpers: mechanisms of maternal-fetal tolerance

Abstract: The evolutionary adaptation in mammals that allows implantation of their embryos in the mother's womb creates an immunological problem. Although it ensures optimal nourishment and protection of the fetus throughout its early development, intimate contact with the mother's uterine tissue makes the fetus a potential target for her immune system. As half the fetal genes are derived from the father, the developing embryo and placenta must be considered a 'semi-allograft'. Such a mismatched organ transplant would be readily rejected without powerful immune suppression. During pregnancy, however, the semi-allogeneic fetus is protected from assault by the maternal immune system over an extended period of time. The mother's immune system seems to recognize the fetus as 'temporary self'. How this feat is managed is key to understanding immunological tolerance and intervention in treating disease.

Protein–RNA interactions: new genomic technologies and perspectives

Abstract: RNA-binding proteins are key players in the regulation of gene expression. In this Progress article, we discuss state-of-the-art technologies that can be used to study individual RNA-binding proteins or large complexes such as the ribosome. We also describe how these approaches can be used to study interactions with different types of RNAs, including nascent transcripts, mRNAs, microRNAs and ribosomal RNAs, in order to investigate transcription, RNA processing and translation. Finally, we highlight current challenges in data analysis and the future steps that are needed to obtain a quantitative and high-resolution picture of protein-RNA interactions on a genome-wide scale.